HINTS AND IDEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 102, 2 May 1931, Page 4 (Supplement)

HINTS AND IDEAS.

SOME USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.

WORK SCREEN.

A delightful item _f or the busy houses wife is the work screen which, when closed, conceals quantities of work materials', none of which in this case' need to be gathered up and put away. The screen can be made from a small clothes airer, unless a small screen happens to be awaiting a good use. The screen will need a pretty cretonne on the outside, put on slightly full; this can be achieved by hemming both ends and threading the slots with strong tape, the top being fixed to the wood with drawing pins. A flap, which can be let down, is screwed to the centre bar of the airer, hinges being required for this; the flap can be hooked in place with a strong tape or ribbon at each side. Tiny brass hooks are screwed into the top rail for the reception of scissors, hanks of thread, and silk pincushions, etc., and comfortably large pockets of cretonne arranged where the owner considers them to be most conveniently placed. A wire hooked across will take any amount of spare cotton reels, and a shallow pocket and a strap across the upper part of the screen' form a good receptacle for 'scissors, needle books, and spectacle case. The work screen has many recom-, mendations and can be taken just as it is into the garden, into the porch, or from room to room, and yet remain perfectly tidy. CLEANING BROWN SHOES. Occasionally wash the shoes with a flannel squeezed out of strong suds of soap. Absorb as much of the moisture as possible by pressing with soft rags. While still damp, rub in a little castor oil or vaseline with a piece of flannel. When thoroughly dry apply brown polish or cream in the usual way. If there are grease stains on the shoes rub a little powdered French chalk on the marks and leave it on for about 24 hours. Then polish with brown boot cream. It may be necessary to repeat the treatment. Black stains which are so disfiguring on brown shoes can generally be removed by dissolving quarter of a teaspoonful of salt of lemon in half a gill of water and applying the cool liquid to the stains with an old brush. Dry and polish with a good cream. WASHING CRETONNE COVERS. Cretonne loose covers should be washed in bran water which is prepared as follows: —One pint of wheat bran boiled gently for half an hour in two quarts of water; strain, and to this liquid add two quarts of cold water, so that it is only lukewarm when used. Add to this four tablespoonfuls each of salt and vinegar. This quantity is sufficient for a large easy chair cover. Bran water preserves colour as well as stiffening and cleansing, and no soap is needed. Rub well and then rinse in several waters. Hang up until almost dry, roll up tightly while still damp and iron carefully.

WORM-EATEN FURNITURE. Here is the best remedy for this plague. Ask a chemist for a strong solution of mercuric chloride. Dip a thin camel hair brush into the liquid. Push the brush right into the little holes and keep on doing this until the solution is no longer absorbed. Another way to is to inject the fluid with a fountain pen filler. This operation should be repeated once or twice a month for some time. The grub holes should then be filled with a mixture of three parts resin to one of beeswax. LEATHER FURNITURE. To polish leather on furniture take a pint of linseed oil, boil it, and let it stand until nearly cold. Stir in half a pint of vinegar until thoroughly mixed. Then bottle. * Shake the contents before using and put a little on a soft cloth and rub well into the leather. Turn the cloth as its gets dirty, and then rub with a soft cloth until; the polish is restored.